Hi Richard and thank for the reply
like you said "Connecting 5V to the top and bottom of a 10K pot should never burn it out"
This is why I just cant understand why this happens - If you look at the last page of the datasheet you see
Electrical Schematic
PIN 3 (GND) (LEFT BUS BAR)
PIN 2 (COLLECTOR) or wiper
PIN 1 (V+) (RIGHT BUS BAR)
This is exactly how I plug it ( I have also tried plugging it with the V+ and GND reversed (but that gives the same result - only in reverse; that is, only 1/4 of the sensors gives out any reading if I put 5v trough a 20-50 ohm resistors and If I dont have the resistor it overheats and eventually burns.)
P.s when the sensor starts burning; small burning holes start burning up and getting bigger at the end of the circle on each side (that is on the touch surface; right before electricity comes from or goes to the pins)